It looks like Nissan is preparing to be a part of the niche electric vehicle segment in India. The company might bring in their famous electric vehicle, Leaf, to India early next year.
One of the top honchos at Nissan went on to clarify that the Leaf project will not be a big one, but a small volume initiative. The company would take a call on the launch, depending on the customer response. We expect that Nissan will showcase the upcoming Leaf electric hatchback at the 2018 Auto Expo.
The electric vehicle segment in India has been slow to pick up steam. Lack of proper infrastructure and high battery costs are the two main reasons why this segment still hasn’t moved beyond the nascent stage in India. However, things are expected to change now, as the government has been pushing determinedly for cleaner and greener cars. In fact, the government is hoping that by 2030, only electric cars will be sold in the country. The next generation Nissan Leaf will be unveiled to the world in September this year. This new Leaf is rumoured to have a driving range of 350-300kms, thanks to the 60 kWh battery. Much attention has been paid to making the Leaf roomier and spacious as well.
Currently, Mahindra is only company in India that sells electric cars. Tesla, the fastest growing electric car company, is also interested in selling the Model 3 in India. However, due to the current FDI policy for single retail seller, the American company might have postponed its India debut.